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      Holland confirmed as Nations League 2023 hosts as dates for Uefa tournament are revealed

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      HOLLAND will host the 2023 Nations League finals next summer. The semi-finals take place on June 14 and 15 with the final and third-place play-off on June 18.
      Holland will host the Uefa Nations League finals in 2023Credit: AP
      Matches are set to be staged in Rotterdam and Enschdede with Stadion Feijenoord and De Grolsche Veste the preferred options – the homes of Feyenoord and FC Twente.
      The Johan Cruyff Arena and Philips Stadion are both unavailable due to pre-arranged concerts.
      Louis van Gaal’s side secured their place at the 2023 Nations League finals by topping League A Group 4 ahead of Belgium, Poland and relegated Wales.
      Holland will be joined at the four-team showdown by Croatia, Italy and Spain.
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      Croatia saw off Denmark, France and Austria while Spain pipped Portugal, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.
      And Italy recovered from their shock World Cup qualification exit to win their group ahead of Hungary, Germany and England.
      The Three Lions were winless in six matches over the summer sending them down to League B for the next edition.
      The draw for the semi-finals will take place in January.
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      The Nations League was introduced in 2018 to try and eliminate pointless international friendlies with more competitive fixtures.
      Portugal won the inaugural edition in 2019, beating the Netherlands in the final in Porto while France toppled Spain last year in Milan.
      Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe were on target in the final at the San Siro to complete a comeback 2-1 victory for the world champions.
      Croatia will be the only nation making their debut at the finals.
      Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema fired France to the title in 2021Credit: Getty More

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      England fans face nightmare Naples trip for Euro 2024 qualifier vs Italy despite horror stabbing during Liverpool visit

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      ENGLAND fans face a security nightmare as their Euro 2024 qualifying clash against Italy will be staged in Napoli.The Italian Football Federation yesterday announced that the March 23 clash will be held at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
      Napoli fans have a history of causing problemsCredit: AFP or licensors
      Napoli Ultras have reportedly been behind a series of dangerous clashesCredit: Reuters
      There have been repeated incidents involving English fans in Naples, most recently when Liverpool played there in the Champions League in September.
      Liverpool fans were told by the club to remain in their hotels and to not reveal their colours but there were still incidents in the city before the game.
      Some fans were chased down streets or attacked in bars – three years after Reds’ supporters suffered  head injuries when Napoli hooligans pelted crowds with glass bottles.
      Arsenal and Leicester followers have also faced problems.
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      And following Italy’s Euro 2020 final victory over England a police officer was stabbed in the stomach and several other people attacked.
      Shards of glass, fireworks, and bottles were strewn across the city after violent scenes erupted once Roberto Mancini’s men won the penalty shootout.
      The FA are likely to give England’s fans a similar message in what is Italy’s first game in the southern city since 2014.
      Italian cops have previously warned of fans being targeted by Napoli’s ultras.
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      England lost to Italy 1-0 in Milan in the Nations League in September and this will be the Three Lions’ first game since the World Cup.
      England then entertain Ukraine on March 26.
      Naples has long had problems in the city centre near the notorious Forcella district, which was known for the area’s Mafia – the Camorra.
      In the path tourists have been advised to steer of Forcella. More

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      England players fumed at Fabio Capello when manager cheered on ITALY at World Cup 2010, reveals Joe Cole

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      JOE COLE has revealed that he was left fuming when former England manager Fabio Capello cheered on Italy at the 2010 World Cup.The former midfielder was “bothered as an Englishman” as his coach got behind another team while the Three Lions struggled to impress.
      Joe Cole revealed that Fabio Capello cheered on the Italy team at the 2010 World CupCredit: PA:Press Association
      England were knocked out of the tournament at the round of 16 after a heavy 4-1 defeat by Germany.
      But Cole, who was part of the 23-man squad, was annoyed that Capello and his backroom staff did not put their national allegiance aside during the tournament.
      He said: “What done me at the World Cup was when they were all watching Italy, like hollering and hooting when they scored.
      “I just think that the foresight of that wasn’t great. It bothered me as an Englishman.”
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      Capello, however, would not have had much to cheer about as the Italian side finished bottom of their group behind Paraguay, Slovakia and New Zealand.
      The Azzuri did not manage to win a game throughout the entire tournament.
      It was a shock for the side, who had gone into the tournament in South Africa as favourites and holders of the trophy.
      It is not the first time the former Chelsea and West Ham star has criticised his former manager.
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      Recently in a Telegraph column, Cole argued that Capello “didn’t have a tactical plan”, as he believed that England could have achieved a lot more with the players at the disposal.
      He wrote: “Even when we got knocked out, there was no inquest. Capello wanted to keep his job.
      “There needed to be a revolution but none arrived. I spoke out after the tournament in frustration at getting just two appearances – both as a second half substitute – and mostly because we should have been doing better. 
      “We had good players. I have played with some of the best.
      “Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack, Deco – and I can tell you that Lampard, Gerrard and Rooney were just as good.
      “With a plan to keep the ball, we would have done so much better.” More

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      Italy legend Gianluigi Buffon reveals shock team he’s supporting at Qatar World Cup 2022 after Azzurri failed to qualify

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      ITALIAN goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has revealed that he will be supporting Cameroon at the World Cup.The African side will face Switzerland, Serbia and Brazil in their World Cup group.
      Gianluigi Buffon is supporting Cameroon at the World CupCredit: Rex
      Cameroon has been the Parma goalkeeper’s second team since 1982Credit: AFP
      Buffon will not be playing at the World Cup after Italy failed to qualify for the tournament.
      The Azzurri lost to North Macedonia 1-0 in their qualifying match as they only managed to come second in their group.
      This means that the Italians have not been at the last two World Cup tournaments as they also missed out on playing in Russia in 2018.
      Buffon however will be watching and has named the team he is backing, surprisingly, as Cameroon.
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      The veteran goalkeeper told Radio Anch’io Sport: “It has always been my second team, my favorite Serie B team, ever since the 1982 World Cup.
      “In 1990 my support was total, with players like N’Kono, Milla and Oman-Biyik who, for me, were heroes.
      “The 1990 Cameroon squad I could repeat by heart.”
      He also showed support for Iran’s spot in the tournament, after there were calls for them to be kicked out due to the nation’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict
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      He added: “Iran’s presence at the World Cup is right, sport is a meritocracy and they have earned this participation, this opportunity.
      “If this then becomes a way to send signals of collective humanity, so be it. Long live Iran’s players.”
      Buffon is in the twilight of his career at 44 years old, but there appears to be no end in sight for the former Juventus stopper.
      His contract with current signed Parma expires in June 2024. More

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      Juventus star Nicolo Fagioli snubbed Man Utd transfer as he was ‘not ready to leave Italy’, reveals brother

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      JUVENTUS midfielder Nicolo Fagioli snubbed a move to Manchester United as he did not want to “leave Italy”.The Italian’s brother Alessandro has revealed that the 21-year-old turned down a move to Old Trafford as he was not ready for a move away from home.
      Nicolo Fagioli turned down a move to Manchester UnitedCredit: EPA
      The Red Devils were reportedly interested in signing Fagioli during his time at Cremonese before he moved to Juventus.
      When asked about how the Old Lady signed him, Alessandro brought up the interest from United.
      He also insisted that the midfielder is a “mummy’s boy” and did not want to have to much distance between himself and home.
      He told Tuttosport: “Nicolo is a mummy’s boy, he has never liked distance.
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      “When he was at the Cremonese youth team, he said no to Manchester United, he didn’t feel ready to leave Italy.
      “And for Juve he preferred to decline the interest of Inter, AC Milan and Atalanta.”
      The decision has seemed to have paid off for the midfielder as he spent a couple of seasons with Juventus’ youth sides before breaking into the first team this season.
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      He impressed manager Massimiliano Allegri and was brought off the bench against Lecce in October and went on to score the winning goal in the 1-0 victory.
      Since then Fagioli has played in the Champions League and overall he has made nine appearances in all competitions, scoring twice.
      Last season, the Italian was back at Cremonese on loan and helped them earn promotion to Serie A. More

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      Alan Shearer predicts England will be knocked out of World Cup 2022 in quarter-finals and reveals two concerns

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      NEWCASTLE legend Alan Shearer reckons England will get knocked out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals.The Three Lions have reached at least the semi-finals at the last two tournaments, losing to Croatia in 2018 and Italy in the final at Euro 2020.
      Alan Shearer reckons England will get knocked out at the quarter-finalsCredit: Getty
      But the ex-England striker, who’s worried about the defence, doesn’t think Gareth Southgate’s side will perform as well this time around.
      He said: “I don’t see us going as far as we have done in the last two tournaments.
      “I think in terms of midfield positions and forward positions Southgate will be confident but in terms of defensively, that’s an area for concern.
      “We should win the group with the ability that we have in our squad.
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      “The further you go in the tournament the better the opposition are going to be and the players you’re up against, so my concern for England would be defence.
       “I think he’s got some big decisions to make in terms of the 11 he starts and what system he’s going to play.

      “It’s probably been made slightly easier for him now he can have a squad of 26 rather than 23.
      “We have got one or two injuries which he has to make a call on because maybe two or three players haven’t played for six or seven weeks.
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      “With the success that they have had in the last two tournaments we want England to go that one step further and try and win it.
      “Whether we can or not remains to be seen. It’s going to be very, very difficult.”
      If England win their group they’re in line to face France in the last eight, while coming second could see them come up against Argentina.
      Asked about how far he thinks England will go, Shearer said: “I’d say maybe a quarter-final.” More

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      Roma kid Cristian Volpato REJECTS World Cup call-up from Australia after breaking into first-team under Jose Mourinho

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      ROMA star Cristian Volpato has turned down a World Cup call-up by Australia as he wants to eventually play for Italy.The teenager is enjoying a break through season at the Serie A club under manager Jose Mourinho.
      Cristian Volpato has impressed for Roma this seasonCredit: Getty
      Jose Mourinho has promoted Cristian Volpato to his first-teamCredit: EPA
      He has featured five times for the first-team scoring one goal and it has led to Australia offering him a place in their 26-man squad heading to Qatar.
      However he has shockingly rejected the opportunity as he holds out to one day be part of an Italy squad.
      Socceroos boss Graham Arnold discussed Volpato’s decision in a press conference admitting Australia were desperate to have him in their team.
      Arnold said: “Until 11pm last night I was trying to convince Volpato to be in the team, it was not my decision.
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      “I spoke to Cristian three times. And I had spoken to him other times before that.
      “Yesterday I told him he was among the 26 called up for the World Cup. 

      “He told me he wanted to think about it and talk to people close to him to try to understand what was best for his career. He later decided to decline my offer to play for Australia in Qatar.”
      Volpato is eligible for both Italy and Australia but clearly has a preference over where his allegiance lies.
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      The 18-year-old was born Down Under and moved to Italy just two years ago.
      He has been capped by the Italian Under-19 and Under-20 sides but was then called up to the Aussies Under-23 team but had to forfeit his place in the squad by Roma.
      Volpato then reportedly posted a video online mocking the Australian team and the attacking midfielder was labelled as ‘childish’ by fans.
      Italy failed to qualify for this year’s tournament with Australia in Group D with France, Denmark and Tunisia.
      Arnold has other young stars to call upon in Qatar after choosing Newcastle wonderkid Garang Kuol.
      He has also called up Jason Cummings despite him playing for Scotland twice. More